Until just a few weeks ago, the coronavirus seemed like a distant, almost abstract possibility. Now it is here, with federal and local governments going into hyperdrive in an attempt to contain it. It is a transformative moment both from a public health and political perspective. …
Citizens expect governments to be stabilizing forces in times of crisis. For context, we can refer back to the Hobbesian theory of “war against all.” According to Hobbes, we – the citizens – give up some of our freedoms to the government in return for greater certainty and stability. Most importantly, governments are expected to hold anarchy at bay.
So, what do Americans think about the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus? And how do they see Trump’s leadership in these challenging times? CONT.
Clifford Young, Ipsos
